Cigarette receiver and extinguisher



United States Patent inventor [72] Marvin J. Blakeway Sacramento, California (1690 Tracy Blvd. Apt. 7, Tracy, Calif. 95376) [21] App]. No. 801,302 221 Filed Feb. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [54] CIGARETTE RECEIVER AND EXTINGUISl-IER 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. 52' 1 us. Cl. 131/235, 1 l31/242;220/88 [51] Int. A241 13/18, A241 19/ 14 [50] Field of Search 131/231, 235, 236, 256; 220/8813; 169/34 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,908 4/1925 Dolan 131/236 ll /5 54 ll Agee 131/235 2,373,037 4/1945 Lindsay.... 220/88(B)UX 2,690,755 10/1954 l-laner 131/236 2,726,664 12/1955 Webber.... 131/236 2,727,521 12/1955 Wilson 131/256 2,769,447 ll/1956 Moberg et a1 131/256 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Alexander B. Blair 60 Z0 Q 1 36 M It is the commonpractice-to provide receptacles for lighted cigaretteswherein flap gates are provided, adapted to be opened to drop the cigarette into the receptacle. These cigarettes, however are-notextinguished and may continue to smolder for a substantial length of time. These devices are provided with no means for completely extinguishing the cigarette in thereceptacle;

Sem nary of the Invention The device comprisesaca sing divided transversely by a wall to form in one side a compartmentto receivea container of C gas, preferably colored, for a reason to be described. In the other side oi: the partition is a cigarette receptacle having a sight glass in one wall through which the accumulation of cigarettes may be viewed and throughwhich it may be deter mined through the colo'ringof the CO gas whether the con: tainer forsuch gas is exhausted. Flap gates are arranged'at the top of the cigarette receptacle and a tube is provided to receive cigarettesdro'p'ped.thereinto. Upon the dropping of a cigarette, a button is pushed to open the flap gates so that the v cigarette falls into the receptacle, whereupon a valve-operating button above the gas receptacle is pressed to discharge CO gas into the bottom'of the cigarette receptacle. As is well known, CO gas is heavier than air and will not support combustion, and the flow of CO gas into the receptacle maintains a quantity of such .gas therein to extinguish completely the lighted cigarettes.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWING FIG. 1 a plan view of the device; 7 FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of F IG. 3 is a transverse vertical view on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and FIG 4 isa horizontaljsectionon line 4-4 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION THE PREF RRED EMB DI E T tion 18 forming to one side thereof a compartment 20 normally having, therein a container 22 for'CO' gas having a rubber orsimilar membrane, 24 thereacross to seal it. The conflap gates at the line 48 to tilt the gates to the dotted line position shown if FIG. 3. This actuator is carried by a vertical stem 54 having an operating pushbutton 56 slidable in a guide 58 carried by the top wall 32. To the right of the gate operating device in FIG. 2 is arranged a tube 60 having its end projecting through and fixed to the wall 32 and its lower end terminating above the gates 42. When a cigarette is to be disposed of, it may be dropped lighted end downwardly, into the tube 60, whereupon the button 56 isdepressed to open the gates 42 to drop the cigarette into the receptacle 38. The axis of the tube 60 is directly above the line 48 (FIG. 1) and accordingly, the cigarette will drop between the spaced adjacent ends of the gates 42 when the latter are in open position.

It will be noted that the hose 36 extends through the partition 18 to discharge CO gas into the receptacle 38 The CO, receptacle is inserted from beneath the valve 28- with the upper casing section 14 is removed, and the hollow needle 34 will puncture the membrane 24. The button 30 is pushed to admit CO gas through the needle 34 to the valve mechanism 28 and thence through tube 36 to the receptacle 38. After a cigarette is dropped into the tube 60 and the button 56 pushed downwardly to open the gates 42, the lighted cigarette will drop into the receptacle 38 whereupon the pushbutton 56 is released. The CO; gas, admitted into the receptacle 38, at low pressure, will settle into the bottom thereof and immediately extinguish the cigarette. If the gas is colored, it can be viewed through the sight glass to determine that each cigarette v ment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood I tainer 22 ha sanZupwardlyextending neck 26 on which is mounted a cohventional valve 28 operable by a pushbutton 30 projecting through the topiwall 32 of the casing. The valve is inserted by moving the container upwardly therebeneath, and the membrane 24 is puncturedby a hollow needle 34 carried 'by the valve. Upon depression ofthe button 30, CO gas will be discharged. through a-flexible hose 36. It should be understood that the gas'in the container 22 is maintained at relatively low pressure so thatth e gas will not be discharged in the mariner described below in a'high-speed jet.

. The casing to the right of the partition 18in FIG. 2 forms a cigarette receptacle 38' having a sight glass 40 in one wall thereof extending throughout the greater portion of the height ofthe receptacle.

The top of the receptacle 38 is formed by a pair of flap gates 42 having projections 44 (FIG. 4) for pivoting the flap gates to an end wall 46of the" casing and to the partition 18. These pivots are-toward the dividing line 48 between the flap gates so that the latter are over-balanced to be biased by gravity to closed position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, the remote edges of the gates bearing on stops-50.

An actuator is provided for the flap gates in the form of a tapered number 52 adapted tomove downwardly between the dropped into the receptacle will be immersed into the gas to be extinguished. By looking through the glass 40 whenever the button 30 is pressed, it can be determined whether more gas is flowing into the receptacle or the container 22 is empty. Upon admission of gas in to thereceptacle 38, displaced air will be discharged through the vent opening 13. Thus, it will be apparent that the present device provides for the instantaneous extinguishing of cigarettes dropped into the receptacle, thus preventing the cigarettesfrom continuing to smolder.

While it is preferred to use CO gas, it will be apparent that any inert gas, heavier than air which will not support combustion, may be used with the device.

From the foregoing it'will. now'seem that there is herein provided an improved cigarette receiver and extinguisher which accomplishes all of the'objects of the invention and others. including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance. 7 1

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodithat all matter herein isto interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. A cigarette receiver and extinguisher comprising a casing having a receptacle therein, closure means at the top'of said receptacle adapted to be opened to drop a lighted cigarettethereinto, and means for supplying to said receptacle an inert noncombustion-supporting gas which is heavier than air to form;a layer of such gas in the bottom. of said receptacle to extinguisha Cigarette dropped thereinto said casing including acompartment, a container -for said inert gas in said compartment having a control valve and a tube leading therefrom into said receptacle,-and means for operating said valve to discharge gas from said container into said receptacle.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said casing is provided with apartitionfo'rming one wall of saidreceptacle and combining with portions'ot saidcasing to forms'ai'd compart ment, said tube extending through said partition.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said casing is provided with a top wall, said means for operating said valve com- I prising a button projecting through said top wall.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said casing is divided horizontally to form top and bottom portions normally clamped together, said top portion being removable for the insertion and removal of said container.

5. A device according to claim I wherein one wall of said receptacle is provided with'a sight glass.

glass extending close to the bottom of said receptacle for the viewing of the contents thereof. 

